Funso Doherty, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Lagos governor, has pledged to make public education truly free and deliver 150,000 affordable housing units if elected in 2027.
Doherty made the commitments on Sunday at the 2026 governorship debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium in Lagos, where he laid out his plans for the state’s development.
He said his policies were anchored on the belief that a society prospers only when individuals have the opportunity and resources to improve their lives, adding that his administration would prioritise people-centred programmes aimed at building skills and widening access to essential services.
‘We have said we will make education truly free, not nominally free, truly free. So, people will not pay exam fees; they will not be asked to come and pay taxes at the point where they have to write their exams,’ he said.
He also pledged that pupils in public schools would receive at least one affordable meal daily, describing education as a priority given Nigeria’s youthful population. Healthcare, job creation, support for small businesses and public transportation would also feature prominently, he said.
On housing, Doherty said the 150,000 units would be delivered through funding arrangements, government guarantees and partnerships designed to make the target achievable.
Earlier in his remarks, he said Lagos was performing below its potential despite its substantial revenue and economic resources, arguing that residents carry a heavy tax burden without commensurate improvement in public services.
‘About 90 percent, or close to 90 percent, of that internally generated revenue is taxes. Taxes taken from people like you and me. So, the people are definitely playing their own part. It is the government that is failing,’ he said.
Doherty also faulted the state’s political leadership, saying the same political bloc had governed Lagos for 27 years without adequately tackling challenges in education, healthcare, housing, water supply and electricity.
He said his administration would focus on six areas: health; education and opportunity; affordable housing; jobs and small businesses; the environment; and honest and accountable government. These, he said, are backed by 34 commitments in his manifesto, which he urged residents to scrutinise and use to hold him to account.
Citing 30 years in the private sector, Doherty said his experience in leadership and financial management would shape his approach to governance.
He contested the 2023 Lagos governorship election and is running again in 2027, this time on the NDC platform. In October 2026, the party unveiled his running mate, Tolani Animashaun, alongside its manifesto, titled ?`nà Tuntun (The New Way).
The manifesto sets out 34 commitments across six areas, including healthcare and education, affordable housing, public transportation, jobs and small businesses, environmental services, and accountability in government.